Alabama is a wonderful place to be a birdwatcher. And the good thing about it is you do not have to go far….just out your backdoor. Here are just a few birds you can see by just going out into your yard or to a downtown park or a stroll along the Tennessee River:
American Robin
The American Robin is the most widespread North American Thrush. The female has a lighter head color. Robins prefer short grass areas with shrubs and trees. They will forage in your yard eating worms in the morning and fruit in the afternoon. They make their nests from grass and twigs and mud. You can find Robin in North Alabama all year-long.
Mockingbird
The Mockingbird the male and female have white wing patches and white feathers on the sides of their tails that can be seen when they fly. The Mockingbird is well known for long, complex songs, mimics, and noises. Some are beautiful some are just noisy. they prefer open ground with lawns and shrubby vegetation. They eat fruits and insects and they love nesting in low shrubs. The Mockingbird lives in Alabama year-round.
Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove is one of five species of dove found in Alabama and they live anywhere from agricultural fields to cities. They seeds and are ground feeders. They nest mostly in trees and rarely nest on the ground. The Mourning Dove drinks water like a horse…neither of them tilt their head back to drink. They are considered a North American Game Bird and live all year in Alabama.
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay takes its name from its call Jay! Jay! Jay! It is one of the larger song birds as long as 16″ and sports striking blue plumage. They prefer urban and suburban habitats. They eat acorns, nuts fruits, seeds and insects. They nest in tree limbs and sometimes they migrate and sometimes the do not. We have seen a slight decline in the population of the Blue Jay in the last few years.
Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird has bright blue wings and tail with a chest that is brownish-orange. The Bluebird is very territorial and they prefer open fields. The Bluebird eats insects, meal worms and fruit. They nest in snag cavities and nesting boxes. The population saw a decline in the 1960s but appear to be on the increase now.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal also called a Red Bird has a bright red color with a more washed out red in the females Cardinals have bright orange bills. These birds are extremely territorial and have been known to attack mirrors and windows. They prefer shrubs and small trees and live in a suburban habitat. They eat seeds, fruits, buds and insects. You will find their nests in thick twigs and vines. They reside in Alabama all year-long.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is one of eight Woodpecker Species in Alabama. The male has a darker head and a larger bill the colors are striking black and white with a touch of red on the head. They prefer to live in Forested habitats or Suburban Areas. They eat Arthropods , fruits, berries and tree sap. They have been known to store their food in cracks and crevices of trees. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are cavity nesters and lose up to 50% of nests to European Starlings. The live in Alabama year-round.
Northern Flicker
The Alabama state bird is the Northern Flicker. The males sport black cheeks. These bird prefer forest edge, open woodlands or suburban areas. They primarily eat ants, but will also eat other insects as well as fruit and seeds. They prefer to find food on the ground. They nest in snag cavities or nesting boxes. Live in Alabama year-round.
Carolina Chickadee
The Carolina Chickadee may come by its name by one of the calls they make. these birds have a black cap, black bib with white cheeks. They are small birds and are found in woodlands and wooded suburbs. The Chickadee eats insects, spiders, seeds and fruits they build their nests in snags and nesting boxes. The Carolina Chickadee had a slight population decrease in range but seem to be doing well in Alabama.
Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is a small songbird with a dull brown plumage. They prefer woodland thickets and wooded suburbs. They eat insects, spiders and on occasion will eat seeds or nuts. The Carolina Wren likes to nest in protective cavities of trees, vine tangles nesting boxes and will even nest in tin cans. These birds mate for life. They live in Alabama all year-long.
Tufted Titmouse
The Tufted Titmouse is a small gray songbird with a grey crest and rusty colored flanks. These birds are a little larger than a Chickadee. Their habitat is woodlands and wooded suburbs. They eat insects and seeds. They use hair and fur in the building of their nest which they build in tree cavities. These little birds are in Alabama all Year long.
House Finch
The House Finch is another rather small songbird with the male being red and the females are grayish brown with stripes. They prefer open woodlands around suburbs. House Finches eat buds, seeds and fruit. They nest in tree cavities, bird boxes and on building ledges. The eastern population has been cut in half due to an eye disease spread at tube feeders. They are year-round in Alabama.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds beat their wings 53 times per second. Only one of its species breed in Eastern North America. They breed in mixed woodlands and gardens. The nests are 2-3″ wide with thistle and dandelion down and are held together with spider web and covered with lichens. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird eat flower nectar, small insects and tree sap. They live in Alabama year-round except winter when they migrate south to the tropics.
Cedar Waxwing
The Cedar Waxwing is One of the most Frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds in North America. They are found in open woods or suburbs. Cedar Waxwings eat fruit, berries and insects. These birds are susceptible to becoming drunk from fermented fruit. They nest in Brushy areas, old fields and stream edges. These birds are very common in Alabama , but some may migrate north in the summer to breed.
